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Matabeleland Provinces to walk out at the MDC-T congress

by Ndou Paul
24 Apr 2011 at 13:01hrs | Views
Morgan Tsvangirai is battling to install Senator Nhlalo as Bulawayo provincial Chair to wade off a planned Matabeleland walk out at the Congress in Bulawayo.

Sources in Matabeleland within MDC-T are believed to be up in arms with their Northern counterparts in the party after 6 of the 7 candidates in the region were nominated as deputies. Thokozani Khupe, Norman Mabhena, Bekithemba Mpofu, Sam Sipepa Nkomo, Abednico Bhebhe and Thamsanqa Mahlangu are all set to deputise their Northern counterparts reinforcing the Ncube's MDC argument that Tsvangirai's MDC is bent on a Shona supremacy agenda. Only Lovemore Moyo was nominated in a substantive position as chairman of the party and is set to face a stiff challenge from Matibenga who is supported by the Northern Provinces. Reliable sources have indicated that Matabeleland provinces are set to walk out from the congress if Lovemore Moyo is not elected Chairman.

It is believed Morgan Tsvangirai is keen to support Norman Mabhena and install Nhlalo as Chairman in Bulawayo to stop the planned walk out by Matabeleland provinces. Nhlalo, whose descendents are of Shona origin will help Tsvangirai neutralise a planned block Matabeleland walk out by supporting provinces from the North.

A party source who refused to be named said, "Yes the walk out will happen after the Chairman election. Those guys do not understand what we are up against, Ncube's MDC will become stronger after our congress because our leaders in the North are taking Matabeleland for granted."

When MDC was formed they had the most of their faithful in Matabeleland where the party swept most ofl the parliamentary elections. At that time MDC had three of their seven top positions from the region: Vice president Gibson Sibanda, Secretary General Welshman Ncube and Treasurer General Fletcher Dulini. In 2008 after the formation of the Government of National Unity, Tsvangirai failed to appoint more than three ministers from Matabeleland out of 14 allocated to his party further confirming his view about Matabeleland and its leaders.   

Ncube's MDC are looking to capitalise on MDC-T Congress pointing out that Morgan Tsvangirai's is worse than Mugabe in his advancement of an anti-Ndebele agenda. Already Ncube's party has gained confidence of people in the region. 

Source - Byo24News